Floor 1, Room 3

[jokey]

AKIRA

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[revengier]

I have not been hiding it!

[ Please!! Even the thought of that is embarrassing, so much so that he can hardly stand it. ]

Cid, Robin, and I all went to a bakery and bought bread for everyone. [ ... ] I saved some for you, so I've only had this in here while I was waiting for you to wake up.

[jokey]

Tsk. I try to kick this guy out and he rewards me with bread...

[Don't mind him, he's just musing.]

If I didn't know better, I'd say you have a little crush on me, or have you been feeding all the bad boys scones?

[revengier]

[ What the fuck, what the fuck!!! ]

Shut up.

[ He launches forward and shoves that scone right into Akira's mouth. ]

[jokey]

[Kurapika, you bastard!! Akira's far too fatigued to dodge in time and ends up with a mouthful of delicious crumbly scone instead. On second thought, maybe it's better he didn't dodge. If he had, he might've ended up with a black eye.]

Mmph. You didn' haff to do thah.

[Munch. Munch munch. The scone is delicious, but that's because Kurapika didn't cook it himself. Thank fuck for that.]

[revengier]

[ Hmph.

He sits back on the edge of the bed, and although he doesn't cross his arms, he sure gives off the exact same air as if he were. ]

I did, actually. You were being annoying.

[jokey]

So you thought you could fix me with bread?

[Ridiculous!! But maybe Kurapika's onto something. Having a little bread in his stomach takes the edge off his frustrations, and unlike a certain blond he could name, Akira has never felt inclined to hold onto agitation any longer than necessary. With a resigned sigh, Akira nibbles on his scone.]

I was ready to kick you out the door, and if that didn't work, the window.

[revengier]

Good thing you didn't, because you would have ended up even worse for wear.

[ He'll take you on in a fight and win, Akira. Don't think he won't.

But rather than lingering on that thought, Kurapika pulls a blueberry muffin out of the bag, pulling a piece of the top off and popping it into his own mouth. ]

[jokey]

[Kind of ridiculous how easily Kurapika disarmed his ass with a raspberry scone, but you win some, you lose some. Akira doesn't exactly enjoy feeling sorry for himself anyway.

He hums around a mouthful of scone.]

I owe everyone an apology, but I don't even know where to begin making amends. Think scones would do the trick?

[revengier]

[ He regards Akira for a long moment, chewing on his muffin. ]

You don't need to apologize to me. You're already forgiven.

[ It really is that simple. ]

[jokey]

That's one down, twenty-something to go.

[Not everyone is going to forgive him as easily as Kurapika.]

Then there's the matter of forgiving myself. I was careless during the mission. If I hadn't been, maybe I wouldn't have gotten possessed to begin with?

[revengier]

Maybe. Or maybe you would have anyway. It's impossible to know, Akira, and thinking about what you could have done to prevent it won't help you now.

[ They know how to resolve this if it happens again. That's what matters the most. ]

If you had actually listened to me earlier, you would know that's what I was trying to say.

[jokey]

I got it the first time, Kurapika. I did.

[But hearing is one thing. Taking those words to heart is another.]

I can't accept "maybe it'll happen again, maybe it won't" for an answer. I want to take every measure I can to avoid going down the same path twice. I don't want to become a murderer.

[revengier]

[ He scoots closer, muffin still sitting firmly in both of his hands. ]

Someone like you should never kill.

[ Akira is too good for that, too kind. ]

You can't change what has happened, but you're right about taking measures to avoid the same thing happening to you again. Let's use our ability to harness all types of magic and create protective charms so that you'll at least have a small layer of protection.

[ "Let's" because he plans on helping. ]

[jokey]

You don't have to say it just because it's true.

[Too weak to end another life... or is it kindness? Akira can't tell.]

Guess that's all we can do now, but aren't you being a little too generous? You don't need to bend over backwards to help me out, Kurapika. You have your own problems to deal with.

[revengier]

[ What Akira doesn't get is that he does have to say it. He's too kind to snuff out another life, and the guilt he's already saddled himself with makes that pretty clear.

But Kurapika drops it for now, certain that it'll come up again anyway. ]

I'll do what I want, Akira.

[ And if that's going the extra mile to help him out, then so be it. ]

[jokey]

I get that, but you'll run yourself ragged going to these lengths for everyone.

[Because Kurapika would, wouldn't he? He's a good guy and Akira's gone past the point of deluding himself into thinking he's anything special to him.]

And you'll insist even if I'm not comfortable with you impeding in my life?

[revengier]

I wouldn't.

[ Akira must have some weird, twisted view of him if he really thinks Kurapika would go out of his way to help everyone he meets, much less everyone here. ]

If I'm impeding you so badly, then I can back off. I just thought you might want the help.

[jokey]

[No, no, it's nothing quite like that. He just... doesn't deserve the kindness, but saying as much is going to irritate Kurapika more. Akira doesn't need another lecture.]

I appreciate it, but don't pay me any special attention. I don't want to put you out.

[revengier]

You're not. I wouldn't offer if I didn't want to do it. I'm not the kind of person that goes and doles out favors to everyone.

[ He only does it for the people he likes, which is a relatively short list of people. ]

[jokey]

[Is that so? That must mean I'm special.

...Yeah, right. He's not going to ask the guy who all but flat out rejected him a question like that. Moving on.]

Well, you've confirmed that I'm alive and well and still capable of chowing down on bread. I'd say your work here is done.

[revengier]

Yet you're still acting strange.

[ To him, that doesn't mean his work is done, and so he refuses to budge from where he's sitting on Akira's bed. ]

This isn't something you can bear alone, Akira.

[ Kurapika would know, after all. Those with kind hearts refuse to swallow down and push away the guilt that comes with incidents like these. ]

[jokey]

Come on, man...

[Kurapika, you've really got to stop tearing at his heart like this. He doesn't need to get him wrapped up in his drama. That's just more trouble for him.]

I get what you're saying, but I've caused you enough problems, haven't I? And you've got your mission to worry about. I'll only hold you back.

[revengier]

I can't do anything about my mission here, so it's pointless for you to worry about that.

[ Just saying. There are no Scarlet Eyes for him to find in this world. ]

I get to decide how many problems someone else has caused for me. That's not your decision to make.

[ So don't make it for him. ]

[jokey]

And you won't take into account how I feel about you butting into my problems?

[Why is this the hill you want to die on, Kurapika?]

[revengier]

[ He frowns, but manages to maintain his cool. ]

It's hypocritical of you to butt into my problems first, only to turn around and not let me do the same.